Leer.



J. H. FOX.

LEER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6, 1911.

Patented Dec. 28, 191.5.

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2 SHEETSSHEET I.

N LA QRWR M SSS SSS H D H H m TWA \M m Km X m M a E W J l ll J. H. FOX.

LEER,

APPLICATION FILED lULY 6. 1911.

Patented DEB. 28, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES IPJVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT @FFTGE.

JTQHN H. F 2, 0F 'JPITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 PITTSBURGHPLATE GLASS CUMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN-SYLVANTA.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that T, JOHN H. FoX,-a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Alleghenyand State of Pennsylvania, have made certain new and useful Improvementsin Leers, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to leers through which plate and other glass maybe passed to secure proper annealing thereof. The invention has for itsprimary objects; the provision of a leer having improved means wherebythe temperature along the length of the leer may be regulated; theprovision of improved means for securing a gradual reduction intemperature along the length of the leer; and the provision of atemperature regulating arrangement whereby the length of the leer may bematerially reduced. Certain embodiments of the invention are illustratedin the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a'partial longitudinalsection through one form of apparatus, Fig. 2 is a section on the lineTl[l[T of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through a modifiedform of construction; and Fig. 4 is a section on the line TV-TV of Fig.3.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2; 1 is the brick or masonry constructionforming the body portion of the leer; 2 is the annealing chamberextending longitudinally of the leer, and through which the glass platesare carried from one end of the leer to the other in the directionindicated by the arrows inFig. 1; 3 is a diagrammatic showing of atransfer mechanism consisting of bars, but which may be of any approvedform for glvlng the glass its step-by-step movement through theannealing chamber; 4: represents the sheets or plates of glass carriedby the transfer mech anism; 5 are the heating fiues beneath theannealing chamber, which flues may be of any approved type; 6 is acooling passage way or flue, which passage-way is separated from theannealing chamber by the metal wall 7, preferably of sheet metal,although any other suitable material might'be used; and 8 is a fan forforcing air through the passage-way 6 in the direction indicated by thearrows.

The flue or passage-way 6 is divided up into a plurality of sections bymeans of the division walls 9 as indicated in Fig. 2, and each of thesesmaller fines is provided with Specification of Letters Eatent.

Fatented Dec, 28, 1915.

' Application filed July 6, 1911. Serial No. 637,147.

the dampers or valves 10, 11, 12 and 13. ltach of the sections of thecooling passage way 6 1s provided with plurality of outlet passages 14,15, 16, 17 and 18 leading into outlet chambers 19 (Fig. 2), eachprovided with a stack 20 in which is a valve 21. The separate outletpassages 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 are also preferably provided with thecontrolling valves or dampers 22, 23, 24K, 25 and 26.

ltt will be seen from the foregoing that the amount of cool air passingover any section of the annealing chamber and through any portion of thecooling flue or passage-way 6 may be governed and controlled, theprinciple of the apparatus, involving of course, the gradual decrease inthe cooling effect produced by the circulation from the forward or righthand end of the leer as shown in Fig. 1, to the other end thereof, sothat the glass as it passes forward through theleer is gradually broughtto a lower and lower temperature. The valves or dampers 10, 11, 12 and13, when operated in conjunction with the valves 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26,serve to regulate the quantity of air passing through any section of thefines 6, as the closing of any valve in-a passage 6, such as the valve11 combined with the opening of the valve 23 in the outlet 15, serves tocut down the amount of air flowing through the flue forward of the valve11, such air passing out through the outlet 15. The cooling effect ofthe air as it progresses through the passageway 6, is also reduced byreason of the fact that it becomes heated during its progress throughthe passage-way. It will be understood that the arrangement shown inFigs. 1 and 2 is largely diagrammatic, and that the number and locationof the outlets might be considerably modified, as well as thearrangement of valves, and furthermore, that the position of the coolingpassageway 6 with respect to the annealing chamber 2 might beconsiderably changed or modified to suit conditions. The circulation ofair is preferably secured by means of fans, but any other suitable meansfor causing a flow of air through the cooling passage-way might beemployed.

In Figs. 3 and i, a slightly modified construction is illustrated. Inthis arrangement, the construction is precisely the same as that shownin Figs. 1 and 2, and heretofore described, with the exception that thestack portions 20 all lead into the return flue 27, which has at itsright hand end the suction fan 28 to assist in securing a circulation ofair. The only difference in operation of this apparatus from that ofFigs. 1 and 2 is, that the suction fan cooperates with the fan 8 insecuring a vigorous circulation of air, instead of all the work beingdone by the fan or blower 8. The description and reference numeralsapplied to the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2, apply equally well to theapparatus shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, What I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is the following 1. Incombination in a leer having an elongated annealing chamber, and meansfor carrying glass therethrough, a passage-Way extending along the saidchamber, means for causing a flow of air through the saidpassage-way,and a plurality of valves arranged along the passage-way with outletsadjacent thereto whereby the quantity of air flowing through the variousportions of the passageway may be regulated.

2. In combination in a leer having an elongated annealing chamber, andmeans for carrying glass therethrough, a passage-way extending along thesaid chamber and provided with a series of outlets along its length,valves in the said outlets, and valves in the passage-way adjacent thesaid outlets, and means whereby air is circulated through thepassage-way in a direction opposite to the direction in which the glassmoves through the leer.

3. In combination in a leer having an elongated annealing chamber andmeans for carrying glass therethrough, a heat conducting top wall forthe chamber, a plurality of cooling passages arranged side by side andextending longitudinally of the said top wall, means for causing a flowof air through the said passages, and means whereby the flow through thepassages may be regulated.

4. In combination in a leer having an elongated annealing chamber, andmeans for carrying glass therethrough, a passage-way extending along thesaid chamber, a metal partition between the passage-way and saidchamber, and means for causing a flow of air through the saidpassage-way in a direction opposite to that of the movement of theglass.

5. In combination in a leer having an elongated annealing chamber, andmeans for carrying glass therethrough, a passage-way extending along thesaid chamber, a metal partition between said chamber and thepassage-way, means for causing a flow of air through the saidpassage-way in a direction opposite to that of the movement of theglass, and means for decreasing the quantity of air flowing through thesuccessive portions of the passage-Way.

6. In combination in a leer having an elongated annealing chamber, andmeans for carrying glass therethrough, a passage-way extending alongsaid chamber, a metal partition between said chamber and passageway, andmeans for causing a flow of air through said passage in a directionopposite to that of the movement of the glass, the said passage-waybeing so arranged that the quantity of air flowing therethrough isdiminished from the front end of the passage-way to the rear endthereof.

7. In combination in a leer having an elongated annealing chamber, andmeans for carrying glass therethrough, a heating passage-Way extendinglongitudinally below the annealing chamber, a cooling passage-Wayextending longitudinally above the annealing chamber, a metal partitionseparating the cooling passage-way and the annealing chamber, and meansfor causing a flow of air through said cooling passage-way in adirection opposite to that of the movement of the glass.

8. In combination in a leer having an elongated annealing chamberprovided with a metal top wall and having means for carrying glasstherethrough, a cooling passageway above the said metal top wallextending longitudinally of the leer, means for causing a flow of airthrough the passage-Way in a direction opposite to that in which theglass moves through the leer, and means whereby the quantity of airflowing through the successive portions of the passage-way is governed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence ofthe two subscribed witnesses.

JOHN H. FOX.

/Vitnesses M. PrroArRN, R. W. MCCABE.

